Israel Tennis Centers players show off skills on Longboat

The Israel Tennis Centers players took the court at the Longboat Key Club’s tennis gardens with confidence and ease on March 15.

It was the last stop on their three-week tour around New York and Florida, so though they had already done a dozen exhibitions, a lot of their confidence was built up before they even left Israel.

The four players came from four different Israel Tennis Centers, the largest social-service agency for children in Israel. The foundation teaches children aged 5 to 18 life skills through the medium of tennis, but the foundation does more than give tennis lessons.

For Nitzan, 12, the youngest player on the exhibition tour, Israel Tennis Centers teaches its kids love, values and fun.

“It’s not just going and playing tennis with your friends,” she said. “It’s so much more.”

That’s the point of the exhibitions. Although the players participate in various tennis drills, they share their life stories with the crowd at dinners. The 14 tennis centers are located in Israel facing economic hardships. The soon-to-be 15th center will be located in Sderot, near the Gaza Strip.

From Gabi, 15, who has severe hearing loss, but doesn’t let that interfere with his interactions with supporters, to Shadi, 17, who plans to apply for college in two years, the centers give the kids confidence on the tennis court and off. Executive Vice President for Global Development Jacqueline Goldstein said all the kids have dreams and life goals.

And for the directors of the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation, bringing players to the U.S. is like bringing Israel to the community, Vice President of Development Yoni Yair said.

“What is special is meeting the wonderful people who are passionate about the future of Israel and the children of Israel,” Yair said.